DAWN / NEWS International, Karachi 22 August 1998 Saturday 28 Rabi-us-Saani 1419 Use of force cannot resolve law, order problem: Khalid KARACHI: Provincial Education Minister, Kazi Khalid Ali, has said that for maintenance of law and order in Karachi, it is imperative to recognise the awami mandate. He said that Karachi issue cannot be resolved through use of force. There should be no expdiencies and practical proof will have to be given for restoration of rights of people with all sincerity. He was speaking at a 2-day symposium on "Peace in Karachi" held under the aegis of Women Peace Committee at a local auditorium. Kazi Khalid said for establishment of peace in Karachi, the elected representatives of people and their Provincial Government will have to be allowed the use of their authorities as admissible under law and constitution. Kazi Khalid recalled that an operation was launched in 1992 against MQM and despite poropaganda against MQM and its chief Altaf Hussain, the people re-elected MQM representatives in the 1993 and again in 1997 elections. He called for elimination of what he described as "no go areas" and disarming of all areas of the country. Kazi Khalid said that Karachi alone pays 70 percent taxes but it is not being paid its share from development funds. He also criticisewd extention in quota system. He said that "we welcome action against those who arrested respectable people like Mian Mohammed Sharif and those who arrested Shaikh Rasheed on false charge of possessing kalashnikov". He regretted that no action has ever been taken against those involved in extra judicial killings. He disagreed with various speakers that Karachi problem is the result of "infight" between two groups. He denied that there is any group in MQM. Other speaker on the occasion included Prof Ghafoor Ahmed, Aftab Ahmed Khan, Wajid Javed and Javed Jabbar. ---------------------------------- No immediate changes in Sindh set-up ISLAMABAD: A high level meeting on the Karachi situation on Friday decided not to affect any immediate changes in the provincial set up and found it fit to improve strained relations with the Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM). The meeting gave yet another chance to the province government to devote itself towards improving the law and order, making it clear that there would be no let-up in crackdown against terrorists. The federal government also offered help to the Sindh authorities, if needed. Presided over by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the meeting concluded to maintain status quo in the province but reminded the provincial authorities that it was their prime responsibility to ensure law and order. Sources said the prime minister directed that genuine grievances of the MQM should be removed but noted with reservation that some allies were going too far in their criticism of the government. The scheduled meeting on the Karachi situation was, however, overshadowed by developments in Afghanistan and Sudan following US strikes as the prime minister chaired it for a brief period. For most part, Interior Minister Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain presided over it. Sindh Governor Moinuddin Haider and Chief Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi had been specially summoned in Islamabad for the meeting. Other participants included Speaker National Assembly Elahi Bukhsh Soomro, Interior Minister Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, Inter Provincial Coordination Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Majeed Malik, Education Minister Syed Ghous Ali Shah and Minister of State for Water and Power Haleem Siddiqui. Interrupted due to the prime minister's emergency meeting with three services chiefs and military advisors, the Karachi session reportedly did not take up for discussion some key matters that it was initially supposed to debate. What, however, came for a detailed discussion after the prime minister had left, was the role of the MQM both at the federal and provincial level. The participants reportedly urged that there was a need to improve relations with the MQM and it must be made clear to them that they were equally responsible for peace in Karachi. Lists of some terrorists were reportedly discussed in Friday's meeting but no immediate decision was taken. ---------------------------------- Altaf slams govt for failure in taking preventive action KARACHI: The self-exiled chief of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Altaf Hussain, has expressed sympathy and offered condolence to the families of those who were killed in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Sudan as a result of American missile attacks on August 20. In a statement issued from the party's International headquarters in London on Friday, he said the nation and his party were equally shocked at the loss of human life. He said every Pakistani citizen had the right to demand to know from the government of Pakistan including the chiefs of the armed forces, the president and the prime minister as to why they failed to take any preventive action to defend the soil and people of Pakistan as the attack on Afghanistan was expected for the last five days. He said that after the evacuation of American citizens from the country, the tragic occurrence of August 20 was a certainty in which Pakistan soil had to be used as of necessity. Yet the negligence of the relevant authorities was astonishing that no step was taken to stop in some manner what had occurred, he added. The violation of Pakistan airspace in any manner could not be condoned by the people of the country who had an inherent right in insisting that those who were professionally trained to defend the soil and its sovereignty perform their duty properly, he said. The passage of over 50 missiles during the attack on Afghanistan over hundreds of miles of Pakistan territory was a terrifying fact leading one to believe that we were not as safe as we were told by those on whose maintenance 90 per cent of the country's budget was spent. The party chief further asked why even after the lapse of a day no official statement had come from the relevant authorities as to what happened and why no alert of the necessary air defence mechanism was in place. As such, Altaf asked that the concerned institutions and officials to take immediate remedial steps to ensure the people of Pakistan that not only their lives and land were safe from future attack but that the sovereignty of the country was also properly protected. Simultaneously, he added, those who had been negligent in not taking timely defensive action to defend our airspace should be tried according to military law for jeopardising the sanctity of the motherland. ---------------------------------- Air attack on Afghanistan widely condemned KARACHI, Aug 21: Leaders of political parties have described the US air attacks on Afghanistan and Sudan as blatant acts of aggression and called upon the free world to take notice of it. Tehrik Jafria Pakistan (TJP) chief Syed Sajid Ali Naqvi, speaking at the Sindh Provincial Jafria Council session, urged party workers to follow in the footsteps of Ahle Bait. He said the TJP believes in the unity of Ummah and has always worked for it. He also flayed the government for its failure in stopping the ongoing blood bath in Karachi. Sindh TJP President Allama Hasan Turabi said the US had given another proof of its animosity against the Muslims by attacking Afghanistan. Therefore, he said, all Muslim countries ought to forget their differences and unite to face the challenges. Pakistan Peoples Party said the recent development in our neighbourhood arising out of the bombing of US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya has introduced a new element into the situation. It will have serious implications for combating terrorism in particular and peace and stability in the region in general. We need to watch the evolving situation very carefully to determine our future course of action, said a statement issued from Bilawal House, the residence of PPP chairperson Benazir Bhutto. PPP leaders Senator Taj Haider and Haji Muzaffar Ali Shujra also condemned the US attack on Afghanistan and Sudan. Awami Qiadat Party Chairman Gen Mirza Aslam Beg said the US had set a very bad precedence. "Any country may launch a military operation against any other country on a whimsical assumption that it is involved in acts of terrorism. Pakistan has clear evidence of Indian-sponsored terrorism in Sindh and Punjab through RAW, but would that be a justification enough to launch missile attacks on India. "Without fully ascertaining as to who were the culprits in the bomb blasts in the African countries, the US action defies all norms of international relations and justice. It is a crude display of might is right," he deplored. These actions, Gen Beg said, were only a psychological device to divert public attention from the sex scandals that the president of America was presently facing. This uncalled-for aggression would not only tarnish America's image but it would also trigger reactions which would not be conducive to global peace, he bemoaned. Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf secretary-general Mairaj Mohammad Khan said that the bombing on two Muslim countries had exposed the US designs which wanted to dictate the world after the end of the cold war. He added that the Islamic world would resist the naked aggression. He also accused the present government of carrying out all US instructions whose proof was that the US authorities before launching the aggression against Afghanistan and Sudan held talks with the president and the prime minister of Pakistan. In view of the sensitive situation, he requested Taliban and Iranian governments to sort out their differences through negotiations and unitedly face the US aggression. PPP (SB) chairperson Ghinwa Bhutto said that her party was opposed to every kind of terrorism and condemned the US action. She pointed out that any action, which resulted in the killings of people without judicial process, could only be described as terrorism. She added that no country should act in contravention of international laws. Pakistan Awami Tehreek Sindh secretary-general Dr D. A. Quaderi said the US attack was a violation of international law and said that it was an obligation on all the peace-loving countries to foil US designs. He asked justice-loving people of the US to protest against this aggression and force President Clinton to step down. Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan chief Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani has said that the UN ought to take severe action against the US president for launching attacks on Afghanistan and Sudan without any justification. Prof N. D. Khan, deputy secretary-general of the PPP, said that the US air attacks against two Muslim countries were against all canons of law and deserved condemnation from all peace-loving people of the world. Other parties and leaders who have condemned the US aggression include Pasban, Majlis Saut-ul-Islam Chairman Hafiz Abu Futada Mohiuddin, JUI leader Haji Gul Rehman, Qari Mohammad Siddique Sawati and Zafar Ahmad, Islami Jamiat Talaba Karachi, Pakistan Peace Council Chairman Maulana Irshadul Haq Thanvi, MWM Chairman Syed Iqbal Haider, Anjuman Talaba-i-Islam central Secretary General Khalil-ur-Rehman Chishti, Tehreek Awam Ahle Sunnat, Islami Jamiat Talibat and Khaksar Tehreek Karachi President Prof Hakim Nasar Askari. Communist Mazdoor-Kisan Party Chairman Imam Ali Nazish said though his party was opposed to the politics and strategy of Taliban, yet it considered the US strike as an interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan. ---------------------------------- Benazir defends US attack on Afghan territory KARACHI: Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Benazir Bhutto said on Friday that United States was within its rights in attacking guerrilla camps in Afghanistan. Speaking to Reuters in Karachi she said the air strikes on Afghan territory did not directly concern Pakistan. "This is an issue between the Taleban government and the United States. "Taleban have apparently given refuge to an Arab who is leading a Jehad against the United States and who apparently sponsored the bombings," she said, referring to the Saudi national, Osama Bin Laden. She said, there was a misconceived perception that Pakistan supported the Taleban, and that the air strikes were indirectly aimed at Pakistan, which was "not really the case". Benazir said, Pakistan government should clearly explain that the United States had acted according to its rights under the United Nations charter, and reassure the Pakistani people that it would voice their reservations about the military option. Benazir said she would have preferred Clinton to have used the United Nations route to pursue the bombers who killed 263 people in attacks on US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. But, she added, Clinton had acted according to UN provisions by ordering the missile attack. "The United Nations charter gives every nation the right to self defence, therefore, when the American embassies were bombed it was a matter of time before the Americans responded by going for what they suspected were the causes of the attack," Benazir said. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz said, earlier, that the US air strikes were an "act of violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity". But, Benazir said, time had changed and the reach of new weapons had created a different environment. "New technology has given a new concept to the word 'boundaries'. "This is something we all need to appreciate, if you make an attack, expect a counter attack." She said no one could expect to attack an American embassy and get away with it as the United States was the only superpower since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, anti-US strikes demonstrations and rallies were held across the city on Friday. Demonstrators burnt the US flag and effigies of President Bill Clinton. Anti-US protests were also reported in several other cities. ---------------------------------- Cash, jewellery looted; 21 vehicles snatched KARACHI: Armed bandits looted cash, jewellery and other valuables and snatched 21 vehicles on Friday. Robbers intercepted Muhammad Ali, an employee of Moonlight Company, on Sharea Faisal and deprived him of Rs 509,000. Police said Muhammad Ali was going to a bank to deposit this money. In Model Colony police limits, bandits snatched Rs 5,050,000 from Owais and fled. Robbers looted Rs 20,000 and jewellery from the house of one Javed in Airport police limits. In Gulberg police limits, bandits looted 13,000 UAE dirhams, jewellery and other valuables from the house of Razi-ur-Rehman. In the F B Area robbers looted Rs 61,000 from the shop of Muzzafar Ali. In Gulshan-e-Iqbal police area, bandits looted Rs 30,000, jewellery and valuables from the house of Shaukat. In various other incidents, armed carjackers snatched 21 vehicles, including seven motorbikes, 12 cars, a jeep and a pick-up from different parts of the city. ---------------------------------- US aggression stirs massive protest in Sindh HYDERABAD, Aug 21: All the religious parties observed a 'protest day' throughout Sindh while khateebs made scathing speeches at Juma congregations to condemn American aggression against Afghanistan and Sudan. In Hyderabad, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam and Jamiat Tulaba-e-Islam brought out a rally from Babul Islam Mosque which terminated at the Hyderabad Press Club after marching on Thandi Sarak and Court Road. Speaking at the rally, Maulana Taj Mohammad Nahyoon, Maulana Saeed Jadoon, Mohammad Azam Jehangiri and other leaders dubbed America as 'international terrorist'. They declared jehad against her. They said that America was quite blind to the terrorism unleashed against the Kashmiri and Palestinian people but it was very sensitive when something happened in the Islamic countries. They alleged that Pakistani rulers were a privy to the conspiracy and demanded of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif not to allow the Americans to use Pakistani air-bases. They said Osama bin Laden was a Mujahid of Islam and if any harm came to him, each and every activist of their party would become Osama. Meanwhile, the faction of JUI and JTI led by Maulana Samiul Haq also staged a protest demonstration against the American aggression and termed it an attack on the Ummah. The workers were led by Maulana Shabbir Ahmed Khan and Maulana Dr Abdus Salam Qureshi. Jamaat-i-Islami and Pakistan Awami Tehrik also staged protest demonstrations, while PPP leader Nawab Mohammad Yousuf Talpur condemned the US act. SUKKUR: Protest processions and demonstrations were staged in Sukkur, Ghotki, Jacobabad and Shikarpur by the JI, JUI, Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Harkatul Ansar, Islami Jamiat Tulaba and students wings of various parties to condemn the US bombings. In Sukkur, a big procession was taken out by JUI after Friday prayers. The JI leaders said that US attack had staked the world peace and added that Muslims cannot be intimidated by such acts. The angry participants set an effigy of President Clinton on fire. The JI staged a rally after Magrib prayers which was led by city JI chief Hafeez Shaikh and Shabab-i-Milli leader Hamedullah Bhutto. Reports of protest rallies also came from Thul, Kashmor and Guddu, while in mosques tributes were paid to Osama bin Laden. LARKANA: The deputy general secretary of Sindh JUI, Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro, led a rally of protesters who raised slogans against America. Dr Soomro, in his speech, said the US action was a violation of international rules and agreements. THATTA: Activists from various political and religious parties in protest to the US missile attacks on Afghanistan and Sudan, took to streets in Sujawal. Belonging to the JUI, JI, Sunni Tehrik, Sipah-i-Sahaba and other parties, the workers after Friday congregations took out a big procession, chanted slogans against US and Israel and set ablaze an effigy of President Clinton. The traffic remained suspended for over an hour on Sujawal-Badin Road. MIRPURKHAS: A protest demonstration was staged by Jamaat-i-Islami outside Makkah Mosque at Satellite Town Chowk on Friday. The demonstrators raised slogans against America and demanded the Muslim world to extend full support to Afghanistan and Sudan. SHIKARPUR: Hundreds of JUI workers, led by Maulana Ghulam Qadir Panwher and Siraj Shah Amroti, took out a procession from Lakhidar area. ---------------------------------- ISO leader quits TJP D I KHAN: President Imamia Students Organisation (ISO) D I Khan division Syed Sibte Hussain has expressed no-confidence in the leadership of Sajid Ali Naqvi, TJPchief, and announced to fully support Shoora-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Pakistan. Addressing a press conference along with other ISO leaders, Hussain said a number of accused were arrested in connection with sectarian violence, who confessed to their crimes, but they were not punished, while Mehram Ali was executed by the government in "haste without providing him full opportunity to defend himself". He said the Shoora-e-Wahdat-e-Islami had been formed to resolve the problems of the people belonging to the Shia school of thought. The leaders expressed their full confidence in the leadership of Senator Abid Hussaini, and hoped that he will play effective role in strengthening national integrity and stability by making efforts for solution of problems being faced by Shias. They said Sajid had been removed from the leadership of Millat-e-Jafaria because of his incompetence. ---------------------------------- Iran deploys troops on border with Afghanistan TEHRAN: Iran has deployed troops on its border with Afghanistan to guard against possible attack, Iranian radio reported on Friday. Troops of the elite Revolutionary Guards were sent to the border to monitor the movement of forces fighting the civil war in Afghanistan, the radio reported. It did not say how many troops were deployed. Iran is "carefully monitoring the military activity on its eastern border and will not tolerate any aggression," a senior Revolutionary Guards commander told the radio. "Any aggression against the Islamic homeland will be strongly confronted," said the commander. Iran has accused the Taliban, who control most of Afghanistan, of detaining 47 Iranians since it captured the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif on August 8. ----------------------------------